By John Unson (The Philippine Star) Updated November 24, 2010 AMPATUAN, Maguindanao, Philippines – Relatives of 57 people killed in the country’s worst political massacre gathered at a remote hill in this town yesterday as the nation marked the first anniversary of the slaughter.
Also yesterday, an accused in the massacre in Maguindanao was arrested in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.
Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Task Force Maguindanao commander, said Misuari Sinsuat Ampatuan was arrested at around 4:30 p.m. in Barangay Labu-Labu.
Ampatuan carried a P250,000 bounty on his head, he added.
Of the 196 accused, 83 have now been arrested.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife Jenalyn was among those killed in the massacre, called for a speedy prosecution of the accused, among them Andal Ampatuan Jr., his supposed rival in the May 10 gubernatorial elections.
Of the 57 people killed in the massacre, 32 were journalists on their way to the provincial capitol in nearby Shariff Aguak town to cover the filing of Mangudadatu’s certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao.
Ampatuan Jr., members of his clan’s private militia and several policemen are accused of herding the victims to a nearby hill and shooting them one after another with machine guns and automatic weapons.
Mangudadatu urged residents in Maguindanao to help police monitor the movements of armed followers of the Ampatuan clan.
“That incident was Allah’s way of putting an end to the impunity of certain members of a clan that ruled the province as if it was their private property,” he said.
Mangudadatu said he wants all the suspects who remain at large placed behind bars.
“They remain very dangerous and can receive instructions any time (from the Ampatuan leaders) through mobile phones,” he said.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who was present at the commemoration, vowed to focus her attention on the prosecution of those implicated in the massacre.
She would treat any failure in the prosecution of the suspects as her personal failure, she added.
De Lima called on potential witnesses to come out and help in the prosecution of the suspects.
Four battalions of soldiers, backed by combat vehicles and some 300 policemen, secured the surroundings of the massacre site.
Candles were lit and flowers were placed there in memory of the victims.
Relatives of the victims made emotional appeals for justice,
thousands of mourners gathered at a remote hill in Ampatuan town where the carnage took place last year.
“I am praying by the will of God that we can get justice,” Tom Teuto, 50, who lost his sister and 13 other relatives in the massacre, told reporters at the site.
“I am calling on the President to intervene. It has been a year. It has been very painful.”
Aquino declared Tuesday a “day of national remembrance” and ordered government employees to wear black to symbolize unity with the victims’ relatives.
“Today we again offer our condolences to the families of the victims and vow to do everything in our power to achieve a timely resolution of this case and ensure this does not happen again,” he said in a statement.
At the massacre site, religious leaders led prayers during an emotional service in which white doves and balloons were released in memory of the victims.
Radio and television stations across the country also silenced their broadcasts for 58 seconds at 7 a.m. to remember those killed and to urge authorities to speed up prosecution of those accused.
Although the death toll is officially 57, a 33rd journalist, Humberto Momay, is believed to have been killed as well.
Momay’s death would bring the toll to 58 but the Ampatuans are being prosecuted for only 57 murders because Momay’s body has not been found and he is officially declared as missing.
GMA: I acted decisively
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said yesterday she acted decisively to ensure that justice would be given to the victims of the Maguindanao massacre and their families.
Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn, Arroyo’s spokesman, said immediately after the massacre was discovered, the former president placed Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City under a state of emergency.
“These moves and the swift pursuit operations to seize the weapons and other armaments as well as the arrests of the suspects, including powerful leaders of the Ampatuan clan, led to the filing of charges and the start of the ongoing trial,” she said.
Arroyo later declared martial law in Maguindanao, she added.
Bautista-Horn said Arroyo also ordered that witnesses be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program and formed an independent panel to work on the dismantling of private armies.
Arroyo immediately released funds to help the families defray their burial expenses, she added.
US envoy lauds witnesses
In Davao City, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. lauded yesterday witnesses who have come forward to testify against the accused in the Maguindanao massacre despite threats to their lives.
“We commend the courage of those witnesses who have come forward to testify, despite threats and intimidation,” he said in a statement released by the US embassy yesterday.
Thomas also lauded authorities who have committed to go after the suspects believed to be behind the incident.
“We applaud those members of the police and Department of Justice who are committed to investigating the ghastly details of this heinous crime and prosecuting the accused,” he said.
Thomas said the victims of the Maguindanao massacre should be remembered not only during the first anniversary of the killings.
“They will be remembered by the tolling of bells, by the lighting of candles, and in our prayers, not just today, but every day until justice is done,” he said.
Thomas offered condolences and solidarity to the relatives of the victims.
“On behalf of the US embassy, I again offer condolences and solidarity to the friends and family of the 58 innocent men and women, including 32 media members, who were shot and killed without mercy one year ago today in Maguindanao,” he said.
Journalists call for vigilance
In Zamboanga City, journalists called for vigilance yesterday to ensure justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.
Led by Zamboanga Press Club Inc. president Gerry Lacastesantos, the journalists offered a Mass before the lighting of black candles as signs of continued mourning and the release of white balloons to symbolize freedom and justice at Saint Joseph Parish Church.
In a homily, Fr. Jude Duncombe asked media men to continue praying for the souls of the victims, as well as the protection of the journalists seeking the truth.
In a statement read after the Mass, Lacastesantos urged media practitioners to remain vigilant to stop the impunity of crimes committed against members of the fourth estate and other civilians.
“There’s no place for apathy in our ranks, lest we forget that some of the victims were also members of the media,” he said.
Lacastesantos asked journalists to have faith that the wheels of justice would continue to turn for the victims.
“Let us continue to fight the good fight and remain ever patient and strong,” he said.
“The light of hope shines bright and with continued vigilance, we shall one day prevail and persevere in this quest for justice.”
‘Credible trial needed’
Australia and Canada believe a credible and expeditious trial of the Maguindanao massacre will show the country’s commitment to protecting human rights and upholding the rule of law.
In a statement, Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said Australia welcomed the government’s effort to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“One year after 23 November 2009, Australians join with our Filipino friends in recalling with horror the brutal murder of innocent civilians and journalists in the Maguindanao massacre,” he said.
“We again extend our sympathies to the victims’ families as they mourn their loss and seek justice.”
“The scale and brutality of the Maguindanao massacre sparked outrage in the Philippines and across the world. It brought renewed attention to the human rights, security and governance challenges facing the Philippines.”
In a statement, Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley welcomed the steps the government has taken to hold accountable the perpetrators of the massacre but called for the rule of law to prevail and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
“Ensuring a timely, credible, and just conclusion to this case is essential in demonstrating to the world the commitment of the Philippines to safeguarding human rights and respecting the rule of law,” he said.
British Ambassador Stephen Lillie said justice has yet to be done because there have been no convictions despite some high-profile arrests.
“ Justice has yet to be done,” he said. “There have been no convictions so far, despite some high-profile arrests. Many of those charged in connection with the massacre are still at large. Meanwhile, there are frequent reports about intimidation of witnesses and families of the victims.”
Lillie said the world is still watching one year after the Maguindanao massacre, citing the publication last week of a detailed report by Human Rights Watch on killings in Mindanao.
“What is alarming, however, given the importance of this case, is the glacial pace of the trial, with the court sitting only once a week,“ he said.
“This is because the judge has other cases to handle in parallel, a distinctive feature of the Philippine judicial system.”
Lillie said Justice Secretary De Lima has pledged that the trial will be completed during the term of the Aquino administration.
“But this administration still has close to six years to run,” he said.
Lollie said it is widely assumed that members of a private army were responsible for carrying out the Maguindanao massacre.
“President Aquino has made clear his determination to see justice for the victims of the massacre,” he said.
“Clearly, there must be due process and no short cuts. But ensuring a timely and credible conclusion to this case remains crucial in order to reassure domestic and international opinion of the Philippine administration’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.” — With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Roel Pareño, Edith Regalado, Paolo Romero, Pia Lee-Brago, Aie Balagtas See, Rose Tamayo-Tesoro
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